Carbon coated lithium manganese phosphate cathode material

ABSTRACT

The present invention concerns a carbon coated lithium metal phosphate material containing a manganese oxide layer between the LiMnPO4 material or the C/LiMn 1-x  Z x PO 4  material, where Z═Fe, Co, Ni, Mg, Ca, Al, Zr, V, Ti and x=0.01-0.3, and the carbon layer.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to electrochemically active materials for batteries, in particular for lithium batteries. It more precisely relates to lithium manganese phosphate materials coated with a carbon layer.

STATE OF THE ART

Cathode materials that will reversibly intercalate lithium have been studied extensively in recent years for use as electrode materials in advanced high energy density batteries and they form the cornerstone of the emerging lithium-ion battery industry.

Lithium ion batteries are prepared from one or more lithium electrochemical cells which include a negative electrode (anode), a positive electrode (cathode) and an electrolyte for facilitating movement of ionic charge carriers between the negative and positive electrodes. The electrodes use two different insertion compounds: one type for the active cathode and one type for the anode materials. Insertion compounds are those that act as a solid host for the reversible insertion of guest atoms. In a lithium-ion battery, lithium is extracted from the cathode material while lithium is concurrently inserted into the anode on charge of the battery. Lithium atoms travel, or “rock”, from one electrode to the other in the form of ions dissolved in a non-aqueous electrolyte.

Recently, lithium transition-metal (ortho) phosphates have attracted attention as potential Li-ion battery cathode materials due to their lower toxicity, lower cost and better chemical and thermal stability, when compared to the currently used LiCoO₂. Oxygen ions in the olivine structure form strong covalent bonds with P⁵⁺ and PO₄ ³⁻ tetrahedral polyanions to stabilize the three-dimensional framework¹. Other lithium transition metal oxides such as LiCoO₂, LiNiO₂, LiMnO₂ and LiMn₂O₄ suffer from significant capacity fade during cycling. This is attributed to structural rearrangements caused during extraction and re-insertion. LiMnPO₄ offers a redox potential of 4.1 V vs. Li⁺/Li^(1.2), which is considered to be the maximum limit accessible to most liquid electrolytes. Unfortunately lithium manganese phosphate suffers from a low intrinsic electronic and ionic conductivity and hence poor discharge rate capability. The electrochemical performance is especially poor at high current densities, which is the result of slow lithium diffusion kinetics within the grains and the low intrinsic electronic conductivity^(3, 4). To improve its rate performance, one approach is to increase the intrinsic electronic conductivity through cation doping⁵⁻⁷. However, the effect of doping has been questioned as the increase of electronic conductivity may arise from the presence of conductive impurities in the samples prepared at high temperature⁸.

Another approach is to minimize the particle size of the olivine material^(9, 10) thereby reducing the diffusion path length for lithium ions in the cathode material and establishing a large contact area with conductive additives such as carbon¹¹⁻¹³.

Delacourt et al.¹⁴ synthesized 100 nm diameter particles of LiMnPO₄ by precipitation, which enhanced the reversible capacity to 70 mAh/g at C/20 from only 35 mAh/g for 1 μm diameter particles. Yonemura et al.⁴ reached 150 mAh/g of discharge capacity at C/100 with small particles, close to the theoretical capacity of 170 mAh/g. Kwon et al.¹⁵ also reported the electrochemical performance of sol-gel process prepared LiMnPO₄ with various particle sizes in the range of 140 to 160 nm and obtained reversible capacity of 156 mAh/g at C/100. Thus it is evident that particle size is critical in determining useful lithium capacity and charge/discharge rates¹⁶⁻¹⁸. So far, the production of mesoparticulate LiMPO₄ (M=Fe, Mn) remains a challenge and only a few groups have successfully produced materials of appropriate dimensions to yield the desired electrochemical performance in lithium ion batteries. Hereford a novel approach is required to improve electrochemical performances for this type of electrode materials. According to the present invention, the creation of a specific interface on the LiMnPO₄ material appears to be the best tool to improve electrochemical activity of LiMnPO₄ material.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of this invention is to provide new materials having advantageous electrochemical properties and being useful as electrochemically active materials.

The invention provides an electroactive lithium manganese phosphate material (LiMnPO₄) or doped LiMn_(i-x)Z_(x)PO₄ (where Z═Fe, Co, Ni, Mg, Ca, Al, Zr V, Ti and x=0.01-0.3) material characterized in that it comprises a manganese oxide layer on the LiMnPO₄ material, respectively the LiMn_(10x)Z_(x)PO₄ material.

In one embodiment of the invention, the manganese oxide described above is between the LiMnPO₄ material, respectively the LiMn_(i-x)Z_(x)PO₄ material, and a conductive additive such as carbon.

In one embodiment of the invention, the manganese oxide described above is either Mn₃O₄ (hausmannite), β-MnO₂ (pyrolusite), MnO (manganosit), MnOOH (groutit) or Mn1.85O.6H₂O (birnessite).

In a preferred embodiment, the carbon coated lithium manganese phosphate C/LiMnPO₄ material according to the present invention contains a manganese oxide layer whose concentration is 0.01-5%.

In another embodiment of the invention, the manganese oxide layer between the LiMnPO₄ material and the conductive additive such as carbon is prepared by oxidizing of LiMnPO₄.

The lithium manganese phosphate LiMnPO₄ material according to the present invention contains LiMnPO₄ material with a particle size from about 10 nm to about 1000 nm.

In one embodiment of the invention, the electrode material described above is obtained by a process including steps where particles of LiMnPO₄ are milled with carbon under air atmosphere.

In a preferred embodiment, the electrode material is obtained following the process described above where water addition is also used.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the electrode material is made following the process mentioned above furthermore including a heat treatment from 130° C. to 300° C., preferably from about 200° C. to 250° C.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rechargeable battery comprising the material according to the invention.

An other object of the invention is to provide an electrochemical device comprising: (a) an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte in contact with and separating the anode and cathode; (b) a cathode current collector in electronic communication with the cathode; and (c) an anode current collector in electronic communication with the anode, wherein at least one of the anode and cathode comprises an electroactive carbon coated material having the chemical formula C/LiMnPO₄ or C/LiMn_(1-x) Z_(x)PO₄ , where Z═Fe, Co, Ni, Mg, Ca, Al, Zr, V, Ti and x=0.01-0.3, wherein it comprises a manganese oxide interface layer between the LiMnPO₄ material, respectively the LiMn_(1-x) Z_(x)PO₄ material, and the carbon layer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a process for manufacturing the materials described above.

In one embodiment of the invention, the manganese oxide layer can be created by partially oxidation of LiMnPO₄ with oxidising agent like ozone, Nitronium tetrafluoroborate, etc, by coating of LiMnPO₄ particles with manganese oxide layer or by direct high energy milling with carbon under air conditions.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the process used to produce the materials according to the present invention includes steps where particles of LiMnPO₄ are ball milled under air atmosphere.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the process described above is carried out under wet conditions. The preferred liquid is water or LiOH solution in weight content ranges from about 0.5% to about 20%, preferably from 3% to 10%, more preferably at 8%.

In a more particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the process described above is followed by a heat treatment. The applied temperature ranges from 130° C. to 300° C. for 2 to 20 hours, preferably from 200° C. to 250° C. for 12 hours, more preferably at 230° C. for 12 hours. The heating period is from 2 to 20 hours, preferably 12 hours.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will be described in detail with examples supported by figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows Raman spectra of all measured samples excited by 514.5 nm laser.

FIG. 2 shows Raman spectra of LiMnPO₄ grounded with carbon black under argon and dry condition, compared to pure LiMnPO₄, C/LiMnPO₄ (703061-P-BX2-230) and pure hausmannite.

FIG. 3 shows the electrochemical performances of carbon coated LiMnPO₄ active material prepared according to the invention and a comparison to a mixture of LiMnPO₄ and carbon known from the prior art.

TABLES

Table 1 gathers the different materials under study.

Table 2 summarizes Raman bands of the measured samples and comparison to the literature. The bands assignment: ν₂ a ν₄—symmetric and asymmetric bend of PO₄, ν₁ a ν₃—symmetric and asymmetric stretch of PO₄; intensities: vw—very weak, w—weak, m—medium, s—strong.

TABLE 1 Sample Name Composition Comments 703061-P LiMnPO₄ Pure LiMnPO₄ prepared by the “polyol” synthesis 703061-P-BX1 C/LiMnPO₄ C/LiMnPO₄ prepared by ball milling in humidified composite (20% C) condition (3.2% of water) 703061-P-BX1-230 C/LiMnPO₄ C/LiMnPO₄ prepared by ball milling in humidified composite (20% C) condition (3.2% of water) dried at 230° C. overnight 703061-P-BX2 LiMnPO₄ Pure LiMnPO₄ prepared by the “polyol” synthesis, ball milled in humidified condition for 4 h without carbon 703061-P-BX2-230 LiMnPO₄ Pure LiMnPO₄ prepared by the “polyol” synthesis, ball milled in humidified condition for 4 h without carbon and then dried at 230° C. overnight 703061-P-BX3 C/LiMnPO₄ C/LiMnPO₄ prepared by ball milling in dried condition composite (20% C) 703061-P-BX3-230 C/LiMnPO₄ C/LiMnPO₄ prepared by ball milling in dried condition composite (20% C) and dried at 230° C. overnight Mn₃O₄ Mn₃O₄ commercial Mn₃O₄ (hausmannite) powder, Aldrich 97%

TABLE 2 LiMnPO₄ C/LiMnPO₄ LiMnPO₄ Mn₃O₄ β-MnO₂ 703061-P 703061-P-BX1-230 Ref.¹ Mn₃O₄ (exp.) Ref.⁶ Ref.⁶ Assignment 315 vw 319 w 300-310 319 vw 366 vw 371 w 350-360 377 vw 412 vw 410 w ν₂ 438 vw 442 m 430 vw ν₂ 470 vw 480 vw 485 486 w 525 w 538 s 567 vw 579 575 w 580 580 vw ν₄ 586 w 590 w ν₄ 625 w 626 m 620 sh ν₄ 652 s 658 s 650-668 665 s 720 vw 750 vw 760 vw 945 s 948.5 s 945 ν₁ 999 ν₃ 1003 w 1006 m 1000 vw ν₃ 1015 sh 1018 w ν₃ 1040 w 1061 vw 1067 m 1058 vw ν₃ 1075 sh 1080 w ν₃ 1350 s D 1600 s G

The following examples are intended to be merely illustrative of the present invention, and not limiting thereof in either scope or spirit.

Examples

Synthesis o LiMnPO₄/C Material Using a Process According to the Invention

In a first step, pure LiMnPO₄ (703061-P) was prepared by a process known from the prior art. For example, the international patent application WO 2007/049815 disclosed a method for manufacturing LiMnPO₄ having an excellent crystalline and a high purity. An other example of process is disclosed in the international patent application WO 2007/113624 and described “polyol” synthesis of pure LiMnPO₄.

Example 1

The LiMnPO₄/carbon composite (703061-P-BX3) was obtained by high energy milling of LiMnPO₄ with carbon black under air atmosphere.

16 g of powder of LiMnPO₄ and 4 g of carbon black (Ketjenblack EC-600-JD—SSA≈1500 m²/g) was placed in a 250 mL stainless steel container. A high energy milling with a planetary ball mill (Retsch PM4000) using 9 stainless steel balls of 20 mm diameter was applied for four hours under air atmosphere. The speed of milling was fixed to 300 rpm. A composite of LiMnPO₄/carbon composite was then obtained.

Example 2

The LiMnPO₄/carbon composite (703061-P-BX1) was prepared by high energy milling under air and humidified conditions (3.2% of water). Alternatively LiOH water solution can be used.

16 g of powder of LiMnPO₄, 0.512 mL of water and 4 g of carbon black (Ketjenblack EC-600-JD—SSA≈1500 m²/g) was placed in a 250 ml stainless steel container. A high energy milling with a planetary ball mill (Retsch PM4000) using 9 stainless steel balls of 20 mm diameter was applied for four hours under air atmosphere. The speed of milling was fixed to 300 rpm. A composite of LiMnPO₄/carbon composite was then obtained.

Example 3

The LiMnPO₄/carbon composite (703061-P-BX1-230) was prepared by high energy milling under air and humidified conditions (3.2% of water) as describe in example 2 and then dried at 230° C. overnight.

Comparative Example

The LiMnPO₄/carbon composite (sample A) was prepared by simple grinding of LiMnPO₄ with 20 weight % of carbon black under argon and then dried at 230° C. overnight.

Example 4

The LiMnPO₄ particles prepared as described in WO 2007/113624 was treated with manganese acetate water solution. The acetate was in following calcinations step by 400° C. decomposed to manganese oxide. The resulting LiMnPO₄ coated with manganese oxide layer was than coated with carbon so that the manganese oxide layer creates the interface between the active phosphate layer and carbon.

Example 5

A positive electrode composition of LiMnPO₄/carbon composite active material as described in example 4 was prepared by mixing of the active material (composite) with graphite (KS4 from Timcal) and a binder (polyvinylidene difluoride—PVDF) with the mass ratio (87.5:5:7.5), in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinon. The slurry was then coated on a carbon precoated aluminium foil, serving as the current collector. The N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinon was subsequently evaporated under vacuum at 80° C. overnight. The electrode was then dry at 160° C. overnight under vacuum.

Structural Analysis of the Materials According to the Invention

Micro-Raman analyses of the materials according to the invention were performed on a multichannel Renishaw In Via Reflex spectrometer coupled with a Peltier-cooled CCD detector. Excitation was provided by the 785 nm line of a diode laser or 514.5 nm line of the Ar⁺ laser. The samples were scanned from 100 to 3700 cm⁻¹ wavenumber shift at a spectral resolution of 2 cm⁻¹. Calibration has been carried out using the Si mode at 520.2 cm⁻¹. The scanning parameter for each Raman spectrum was taken usually as 10 seconds and 10 (for pure samples) to 30 (for samples with acetylene black) scans were accumulated for each experimental run to provide better signal-to-noise ratios. Multiple spot analyses were carried out on different regions of the same sample to check for spectral reproducibility.

The three samples obtained according to examples 1 to 3 were compared to samples prepared following a process known from the prior art, these samples being without carbon (pure LiMnPO₄).

The Raman spectra of all studied samples are shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The spectra of LiMnPO₄ are normalized for the intensity of the ν₁ band of PO₄ at 945 cm⁻¹. The main bands of the measured samples and comparison to literature data are given in Table 2.

The spectrum of pure LiMnPO₄ prepared by polyol synthesis (703061-P) reveals Raman bands characteristic for this olivine-type structure¹. The strongest band in the spectrum centred at ca. 945 cm⁻¹ is assigned as the ν₁ symmetric stretching vibration of the PO₄ tetrahedron. In the 1000-1100 cm⁻¹ region weak bands can be assigned as ν₃ antisymmetric stretching vibrations of the PO₄ tetrahedron (1003, 1015, 1061 and 1075 cm⁻¹). In the low to mid-frequency region (bellow 700 cm⁻¹) bending vibrations of the PO₄ tetrahedron appear, namely ν₂ (symmetric) at 412 and 438 cm⁻¹ and ν₄ (antisymmetric) at 620, 586 and 575 cm⁻¹. Very weak bands bellow 400 cm⁻¹ belongs to Mn—O external modes and lattice vibrations. The Li-involving motions are not allowed in Raman, since the Li cations in LiMnPO₄ occupy the 4a sites with C_(i) symmetry¹.

The Raman spectra of the other two pure LiMnPO₄ samples (703061-P-BX2 and 703061-P-BX2-230) show a minor contamination with carbon, as documented by weak broad bands centred at ca. 1350 and 1600 cm⁻¹, corresponding to D and G bands, respectively of disordered carbon. Despite that, the positions and relative intensities of the LiMnPO₄ bands remain unchanged.

As can be seen in the FIG. 1, the spectra of LiMnPO₄-Carbon composite (LiMnPO₄—C) samples show the presence of at least 3 distinct phases:

Disordered carbon with D and G bands centred at ca. 1350 and 1600 cm⁻¹, respectively. LiMnPO₄ with the bands as stated above for the phase pure material.

Unknown phase(s) characterized mainly by the presence of a strong band at 650-665 cm⁻¹ (the exact position depends on a particulate grain and especially on the laser power) and weak bands at ca. 315, 370, 475, 525 and 720 cm⁻¹. In the higher frequency region a new band at ca. 1040 cm⁻¹ appears.

As can be seen from FIG. 1 and Table 2, the band positions of Mn₃O₄ hausmannite correspond exactly to most of those of the unknown phase in LiMnPO₄/C. Comparison to literature data supports this assignment, the variation in the 655 cm⁻¹ band position (Mn^(Π)—O stretching vibration) was observed previously²²⁻²⁴. However, Mn₃O₄ is known to be one of the most stable manganese oxides under the laser beam, therefore the presence of e.g. β-MnO₂ (pyrolusite) MnO (manganosit), MnOOH (groutit) or Mn1.85O.6H₂O (birnessite) can not be excluded. The remaining unassigned bands in the spectra of LiMnPO₄/C at ca. 525 and 715 cm⁻¹ may be attributed to these oxides³.

So, the three samples prepared according to the invention (examples 1 to 3) show an intermediate layer constituted of manganese oxide. In fact, the presence of a third phase (besides LiMnPO₄ and carbon black) is unambiguously evidenced from the presented data and also from our previous measurements on different sample batches.

A clear increase of the intensity of the band at 655 cm⁻¹ may be observed in the series: 703061-P-BX3 (example 1)→703061-P-BX3-230 (dried condition, dried at 230° C.)→703061-P-BX1 (example 2)→703061-P-BX1-230 (example 3), which means that the relative content of the unknown phase is the higher for the samples ball-milled in humid conditions (example 2) and also higher when dried at 230° C. overnight (example 3).

Functional Analysis of the Materials According to the Invention

The materials described in the present invention were used to formulate a cathode electrode. The electrode for electrochemical testing was prepared by tape casting a N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP) slurry of the LiMnPO₄/C material (90 wt %) with poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVdF) binder (5 wt %) and acetylene black (5 wt %) on an aluminium current collector. After drying at 160° C. under vacuum, the electrodes were compressed into 23 mm φ disks with a thickness of 50-60 μm, the active material loading being 8 mg/cm². The cells were assembled in Swagelok™ fittings using Li metal foil as the counter electrode with a microporous polymer separator (Celgard 2400™) and liquid electrolyte mixtures containing 1M LiPF₆ in a solvent mixture of propylene carbonate (PC), ethylene carbonate (EC) and dimethyl carbonate (DMC) (1:1:3 by volume). The electrochemical properties of LiMnPO₄ electrodes were measured by galvanostatic charge/discharge and cyclic voltammetry using an Arbin BT 2000 electrochemical measurement system.

In the FIG. 3 can be seen the electrochemical performance at different discharging rates for the three samples according to examples 1 to 3. These samples were compared to a sample A which is a mixture of LiMnPO₄ and carbon (no coating process) prepared following a process known from the prior art.

As can be seen from FIG. 3, the LiMnPO₄/C cathode material of curve 1 prepared as show in the Comparative example which contains no detectable manganese oxide (haussmanite) see FIG. 2 at the LiMnPO₄/carbon interface shows very low electrochemical performance. LiMnPO₄/C cathode materials according to the invention are shown in curves 2-4. The material realized according to example 2 show electrochemical performance superior to the one prepared according to the example 1. The material realized according to example 3 show electrochemical performance superior to the one prepared according to the example 2. So, the electrochemical performances of the three samples (examples 1 to 3) having an increasing concentration of manganese oxides (hausmannite) as detected in FIG. 1 are improved.

We can conclude that the LiMnPO₄/C material prepared by high energy milling both under air and wet conditions and then dried at 230° C. (example 3) shows the best electrochemical performances.

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1. Electroactive carbon coated material having the chemical formula C/LiMnPO₄ or C/LiMn_(1-x) Z_(x)PO₄, where Z═Fe, Co, Ni, Mg, Ca, Al, Zr, V, Ti and x=0.01-0.3, characterized in that it comprises a manganese oxide interface layer between the LiMnPO₄ material, respectively the LiMn_(1-x) Z_(x)PO₄ material, and the carbon layer.
 2. Material according to claim 1 wherein the manganese oxide layer is either Mn₃O₄ (hausmannite), β-MnO₂ (pyrolusite), MnO (manganosit), MnOOH (groutit). or Mn1.85O.6H₂O (birnessite).
 3. Material according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the concentration of manganese oxide is 0.01-5%.
 4. Material according to any one of the previous claims wherein the manganese oxide layer is prepared by oxidizing LiMnPO₄.
 5. Material according to claim 4 obtained by a process including steps where particles of LiMnPO₄ are high energy milled with carbon under air atmosphere.
 6. Electrode material according to claim 5 wherein the process is carried out under wet conditions.
 7. Material according to claim 6 wherein the water content is 0.5-20%
 8. Material according to claim 5 wherein the process is carried out with addition of a LiOH.solution.
 9. Material according to claim 5-8 furthermore includes a heat treatment from 130° C. to 300° C., preferably from 200° C. to 250° C.
 10. Rechargeable battery comprising the material according to any one of the previous claims.
 11. Electrochemical device comprising: (a) an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte in contact with and separating the anode and cathode; (b) a cathode current collector in electronic communication with the cathode; and (c) an anode current collector in electronic communication with the anode, wherein at least one of the anode and cathode comprises the material as defined in claim
 1. 12. Process for manufacturing the material according to claims 1 to 9 wherein particles of LiMnPO₄ are milled with carbon under air atmosphere.
 13. Process according to claim 12 wherein said process is carried out under wet conditions.
 14. Process according to claim 13 wherein said process is followed by a heat treatment from 130° C. to 300° C., preferably from 200° C. to 250° C. 